Paula Graves - Forbidden Touch

"Wearing a hole in the carpet won't make them let us board any faster."

Iris pressed her lips into a thin line. She didn't want to board any faster. She didn't want to board at all. Not without seeing Maddox one last time. Not without knowing if he shared the ripping sensation currently burning through her gut at the thought of never seeing him again.

Sandrine caught her hand, stilling her movements. "You don't want to go, do you?"

Iris slumped into a nearby chair, "Why are they rushing us out of here? You're not even recovered yet."

She and Sandrine had spent the night St.Ignacio Hospital, and while Sandrine had improved drastically. Iris had been surprised when Alexander Quinn had arrived that morning and told them they were booked on a 10 a.m flight to the U.S.

She'd asked about Maddox. Quinn claimed not to know where he was and suggested she try phoning him on the way to the airport. But so far, Maddox hadn't answered her calls. What if he didn't want to see her again, now that the mystery of Sandrine's disappearance had been solved? What if she'd ever been to him was a diversion to pass the time?

The sound of a scuffle elsewhere in the terminal drew her attention. Frustration tinged with anxiety slammed into her as she recognized Maddox's voice. "You damn well are going to let me through!"

She jumped up and raced toward the cluster of guards she saw gathered about twenty yards away, catching the CIA guard by surprise. Maddox was grappling with two uniformed security guards at the security gate, but he looked up as she called his name.

His blue eyes lit up from the inside, and the sensation that washed through her made her knees wobble and her heart sing. "Iris!"

She tried to pull the guards away from him. "Let him go!"

A Sebastian policeman entered the fray, speaking quietly to the security guards. A moment later, they let Maddox go, and he pushed through the guards to grab Iris in a bear hug.

"I thought I wasn't going to make it in time." he murmured in her ear.

"So did I." she admitted, burying her face in his neck.

He let go and cradled her cheeks between his hands, searching her face, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." She tucked a lock of overlong hair behind his ear. "How about you? You look tired."

His expression relaxed, dimples forming as he managed a smile. "You know Quinn-loves to whip out the thumbscrews"

She scowled. "He said he didn't know where you were."

"Baby, you're surprised that Superspook lied to you?"

"I'm glad you're here."

Behind them, Sandrine cleared her throat. "You must be Maddox. We didn't get a proper introduction the other day during the whatever you call it."

"Extraction." Iris supplied.

"Nice to meet you, finally." Maddox said.

Behind her the CIA agent shot Maddox a dark look and cleared his throat. "The plane is boarding." He grabbed the handles of Sandrine's wheelchair.

"Wait just a minute." Iris said. "I'm not through here "

"Your plane is leaving in ten minutes. If you don't get a move on now-"

"Give us a minute " Iris said sharply.

The agent frowned but pushed Sandrine's wheelchair toward the loading gate, leaving them alone.

Iris turned to look at Maddox. His slate-blue eyes were slightly narrowed as he returned her gaze. "Do you want me to go?" she asked softly.

He threaded his fingers through her hair. "No. I want you here with me."

"Why?" she asked, although she could already feel the reason why, sweeping through her in joyous waves.

He managed a watery smile, "Because I love you."

"I love you, too." she whispered against his lips before she kissed him.

He deepened the kiss, staking claim to her with a hunger that left her shaken.

She reluctantly withdrew. "I have to go with Sandrine, I can't abandon her now."

"I know." He kissed her. "You know where to find me."

A minor chord drifted into the symphony of happiness soaring through her. Coming from Maddox. It was homesickness, she realized with a start.

She brushed her lips over his again. "Or you could come with me. There's another flight in an hour. We could change our tickets, buy you one and all go back together."

The minor key darkened with a combination of loneliness and dread. "I can't go back."

"But you want to."

The desire in his eyes was unmistakable,

"You won't be alone in this." she said. "There are a lot of people who believe in you back home."

He cupped her cheek, "All I care about is what you think."

"I think you should come home with me, I want you to meet my sisters and their husbands. I have a beautiful niece and a nephew on the way. We'll be your family."

"Do you have any idea what you're getting yourself into?"

She kissed him again. "Do you?'

He laughed, hugging her tight. And for the first time in a long, long time, Iris felt nothing but pure, soaring joy.

Five months later

"Naughty man!" Iris's breath was hot in Maddox 's ear as he hustled toward the bride's room.

"Isn't that why you married me, sugar?" He nuzzled the nape of her neck. She made a low moaning sound that shot straight to his groin.

"What if someone comes looking for us?" As they reached the bride's room door, she turned in his arms and lifted her face to him.

He pushed her back against the door and kissed her hard and deep. She wound her arms around his neck and pulled him closer, matching his passion with fire of her own.

He reached around her, fumbling for the doorknob. His hand closed around the cool metal and gave it a quick twist, clutching her waist to keep from falling inside the room as the door swung open. She pulled him into the room with her, her tongue warm and urgent against his.

"I see congratulations are in order."

Iris stumbled, clutching Maddox to keep from falling. They broke away from each other and turned to look at the man lounging on a dainty bench in front of the bride's vanity on the far side of the room.

"Quinn." Maddox growled, not believing his eyes.

"I realize it's customary to bring a gift." Alexander Quinn rose, his movements controlled and unhurried. "I suppose I've done that, though I'm not sure you'll like it"

Iris glanced at Maddox, no doubt gauging his emotions to see if she should intervene. He tamped down his growing irritation and released a long sigh. "You obviously came here to tell us something. So get on with it. We've got a honeymoon to start."

"Al-Adar is out to avenge Mahrnoud's death."

Maddox felt his blood go cold. "What?"

He felt Iris's hand on his arm. He closed his hand over hers, grateful for her calming touch.

"You could have just called with that information." Iris said to Quinn. "What else do you want from us?"

Quinn smiled at Iris, the expression as close to genuine as Maddox had ever seen from the CIA agent. "You look beautiful. Mrs. Heller. Best wishes for a long and happy life." His gaze hardened as he turned it toward Maddox. "To both of you."

"Meaning?"

"You're a wealthy man, Heller. That's a plus when you have a target on your back." Quinn moved slowly past them toward the door before turning to look back at them. "The government can't protect individuals. Not efficiently. And there are jobs they can't-or won't-do. It occurs to me that this world could use people who can-and will- do those jobs"

He left the room, closing the door behind him.

Iris looked up at Maddox, her grip tightening on his arm "He's right. The world could use people like that."

Maddox closed his fingers over hers, more aware than ever before just how much he loved her.

"I know." he said,

"So what are you going to do?" she asked.

"You in the mood to save the world, baby?" he asked.

A smile curved her lips. "I thought you'd never ask."